01-14-2015, 10:14 AM
It was bitter cold, and she'd left her coat on Aria's sofa. But she didn't intend to go far, or stay away long; just enough time for distance and perspective uncluttered by the emotions of others. She wanted to process this without any external influence, and there was too much distraction and volatility upstairs in the apartment to even begin to understand what she felt herself. As those she'd left behind faded to remoteness, Asha slowed her pace. It was dark outside, but the street was well-lit. Only a thin sheen of fresh snow crunched underfoot; the roads were kept swept clean.
Memories chased her heels. One in particular, when they'd stopped at an unremarkable guest house, and the pain and grief and fear of someone resting somewhere within those walls had been enough to wipe every other sense from her body. When he'd found her, her uncle had bundled them in the car and drove, no destination. Just the hum of the engine and his glacial stillness, until her sense of the stranger's pain faded and her body's physical reaction to it calmed. The memory tasted bitter-sweet, now, like there were lies buried in her recollection, splintering its clarity with doubt. She'd always known he kept things from her. But this? Is that why'd he left her? Because of the alternative he'd been shirking for so long? Nox's story was too easy to believe; she seen too much, questioned too much, to dismiss it as ridiculous. But she still wasn't sure she wanted it to be true.
Asha sensed someone behind her long before she saw or heard him, and knew who had followed too, before he spoke. If he really was what Nox accused him of being, he could have easily snuck up on her. She was glad he hadn't. "Yeah."
That was true. She knew fleeing the room had made her look all kinds of fragile, but she simply knew how best to look out for herself. A crowd was always going to place strains on her senses, and though it was generally endurable it didn't mean she had to suffer it out in silence when there was an alternative. Though she hated calling the attention to herself. Fortunately nothing chivalrous emanated from Elias. She wouldn't be surprised if he'd used her departure to facilitate his own.
"I know you didn't really want to come here. But thanks."
A resilient smile banished the brooding tenor of her earlier thoughts. "Although I think the crazy up there might be worse than axe-murderers."
She glanced back at the building. She was immensely grateful for the aid, but she felt like a terrible burden. Aria was tired, and not just the tired of a busy but satisfying day; hers ached bone deep and burrowed much deeper. It was unpleasant to feel, but mostly she just didn't want to add to it. Lucas' over-protectiveness made her sure she would. And if Nox was to be believed, by letting her stay Aria would be harbouring something her cult believed should be hunted down. A shiver inched her spine. Maybe best not to think about that.
Memories chased her heels. One in particular, when they'd stopped at an unremarkable guest house, and the pain and grief and fear of someone resting somewhere within those walls had been enough to wipe every other sense from her body. When he'd found her, her uncle had bundled them in the car and drove, no destination. Just the hum of the engine and his glacial stillness, until her sense of the stranger's pain faded and her body's physical reaction to it calmed. The memory tasted bitter-sweet, now, like there were lies buried in her recollection, splintering its clarity with doubt. She'd always known he kept things from her. But this? Is that why'd he left her? Because of the alternative he'd been shirking for so long? Nox's story was too easy to believe; she seen too much, questioned too much, to dismiss it as ridiculous. But she still wasn't sure she wanted it to be true.
Asha sensed someone behind her long before she saw or heard him, and knew who had followed too, before he spoke. If he really was what Nox accused him of being, he could have easily snuck up on her. She was glad he hadn't. "Yeah."
That was true. She knew fleeing the room had made her look all kinds of fragile, but she simply knew how best to look out for herself. A crowd was always going to place strains on her senses, and though it was generally endurable it didn't mean she had to suffer it out in silence when there was an alternative. Though she hated calling the attention to herself. Fortunately nothing chivalrous emanated from Elias. She wouldn't be surprised if he'd used her departure to facilitate his own.
"I know you didn't really want to come here. But thanks."
A resilient smile banished the brooding tenor of her earlier thoughts. "Although I think the crazy up there might be worse than axe-murderers."
She glanced back at the building. She was immensely grateful for the aid, but she felt like a terrible burden. Aria was tired, and not just the tired of a busy but satisfying day; hers ached bone deep and burrowed much deeper. It was unpleasant to feel, but mostly she just didn't want to add to it. Lucas' over-protectiveness made her sure she would. And if Nox was to be believed, by letting her stay Aria would be harbouring something her cult believed should be hunted down. A shiver inched her spine. Maybe best not to think about that.